To host a variety of arts and cultural heritage activities at the Hennepin County Fair, and enhance the display area for fine arts exhibits. The fair will host a bluegrass band, a MN original singer/songwriter, a storyteller, and a variety of arts demonstrations.
To increase access to arts and cultural heritage programming at the Stearns County Fair by building a permanent stage for demonstrations, performances, and workshops.
To enhance and extend the life of the 15 structures which currently make up the Jackson County Historical Fair Village by replacing damaged windows, leaking roof, and rotting siding. Structural improvements on buildings will allow fair visitors additional access to new displays and artifacts that were not displayed previously, due to fear of damage by wind, rain, and rodents.
To create a Historic Structures Report (HSR), a specialized study that provides documentary information about a historic property's significance, history of use, and current condition. It will be an early step in preservation planning, that considers goals for a structure's use, significant features, and outlines a recommended course of treatment and scope of work for repair and restoration.
To provide exhibits, re-enactments, education displays, workshops and presentations of "Wabasha County in Days By-Gone." Funds will also be used to purchase a sound system to enhance workshops and presentations, enhance the quilt and wall displays in the Open Class Exhibit Building, and bring a youth theater group to perform at the fair.
The project will develop and install an educational exhibit on the history and significance of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in Olmsted County and throughout MN. As the regional headquarters of both of these depression-era economic programs, the Olmsted County Fairgrounds was integral to their local activities and played a role in the development of agricultural and civic infrastructure that continued to serve southeastern MN for decades.
To offer a series of free, historical presentations at the Murray County Fair. Topics covered will include: the Sweetman Colony of Murray County; the role of women during the early settlement of Murray County; the Dakota Conflict of 1862; and a presentation on the history of the Murray County Fair. Based on the research presented on the history of the fair, a book will be published.
To present the history of agriculture in Wright County through exhibits of equipment from the past to present, video presentations, and a demonstration of food preparation in the 19th century.
To create and promote a fun, historical walking tour of the fairgrounds. Visitors will be given a map of the grounds, with sign locations noted. Maps and signs will be written in English and Spanish. In addition to finding the signs and reading about history, visitors can call a phone number listed on the map, enter a location number, and learn more about that particular location.
To provide heritage music and arts programming for school age children at the fair. The Houston County Fair enhanced their sound system and introduced a Polka band. The objective of this project is to enhance the arts with the involvement of the youth and preserve the history of the fair.
To increase and enhance arts and cultural heritage programming at the Houston County Fair. Funds will be used to upgrade an existing stage, install a display case to exhibit artistic and creative works of people with disabilities, and host the Minnesota Scandinavian Ensemble. The Ensemble will educate children and families about Scandinavian music and dances.
To engage the residents of Hubbard County in the arts and encourage them to exhibit their work in the Open Class Building. Funds will additionally be used to restore the one room school house.
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive insect that has been decimating ash trees throughout the Great Lakes states. It was first discovered in Minnesota in 2009 and is now found in four counties (Hennepin, Houston, Ramsey, and Winona). EAB poses a particularly serious threat to Minnesota because it is home to nearly 1 billion ash trees that occur throughout the state - the second most of any state.
To enhance access to arts and cultural activities by showcasing a variety of performers, artisans and educators, never before hosted by the fair. Programming will include children's puppetry, German musical performances and dancing, Spanish, French and German singing, folk singing and fiddle music, presentations on the MN River preservation and history.
To improve display areas that feature quilts, historic and artistic photographs, American Indian fine art, indigenous floral arrangements, locally grown herbs, and other handiwork indicative of Becker county by purchasing display cases and improving lighting. Additionally, to feature American Indian performers and a Norwegian performing pair to share their talents under the free tent during the fair.
To expand the awareness of the arts and history of music in America. The fair will host a jug band, polka band, folk singer and yodeler. To enhance the performances, a sound system and portable bleachers will be purchased.
Funding supports an Irrigation Specialist to develop guidance and provide education on irrigation and nitrogenbest management practices (BMPs). In this position, Dr. Vasu Sharma provides direct support to irrigators onissues of irrigation scheduling and soil water monitoring. She is collaborating on the development of new irrigationscheduling tools that help irrigators manage water and nitrogen resources more precisely. These tools help reducenitrogen leaching losses in irrigated cropping systems.
To increase interest in and access to programming on the performance arts stage by purchasing a sun shade for audiences. The shade will provide relief from the scorching summer sun so that participants and spectators can enjoy the historical and cultural programming.
To hold an Oktoberfest celebration at the fair. A large percentage of the population in Isanti County has German heritage, and the fair will host several traditional German performances and an authentic German dinner.
To increase access to performing arts for fairgoers. The Itaska County Fair provided a variety of performing artists at the 2013 fair including native singer/songwriters, banjo players, the Cloeraine City Band, the Itasca Brass Ensemble, and Homeward Bound Theatre Company.
To create a venue in which to offer arts and culture programming at the fair. The Entertainment Committee of the Jackson County Fair Board will schedule a diverse set of artisans and musicians to provide demonstrations and educational programming for all ages of fair visitors. The free stage will give emergent local musical groups and individuals a stage upon which to showcase their growing talent.
To improve access to arts and cultural heritage. The Kanabec County Fair enhanced the building which houses the open classes and the fine arts and cultural heritage displays. The building provides local artists and art viewers a better environment to display and appreciate art.
To bring back the spirit of old time county fairs by partnering with the Kanabec History Center to bring circus acts to the fair. The Kanabec County Fair will be home to circus-style performance art three times a day for two days at the fair. Performance art has been a part of Minnesota’s county fair scene since the late 1800’s. In 1920, the Kanabec County Fair had six sideshows. Minnesota has a colorful history of circus performance art, and the public will have an opportunity to experience this part of Minnesota’s cultural heritage at the Kanabec County Fair.
To bring “Historical and Scandinavian Churches” to the Kandiyohi County Fair’s Old Settlers’ Cabin. This is a collaboration between Minnesota Historian Doug Ohman, the Kandiyohi County Historical Society and the Kandiyohi County Fair Board. The project includes installing lighting to highlight photos and displays. The fair hired Theatre of Fools for two Vaudeville shows and a juggling workshop for children as well as the Old West Society of Minnesota for living history and reenactments. All artists/historians are Minnesota-based.
To offer fairgoers an opportunity to celebrate local history and culture. The Kandiyohi County Fair has rehabilitated the Old Settlers’ Cabin on the fair grounds. The Old Settlers’ Building was built in 1926 and will be used as memorial hall on the fair grounds. It was used as a gathering place for old settlers and will now be a place to house relics of earlier days.
To bring “Historical and Scandinavian Churches” to the Kandiyohi County Fair’s Old Settlers’ Cabin. This is a collaboration between Minnesota Historian Doug Ohman, the Kandiyohi County Historical Society and the Kandiyohi County Fair Board. The project includes installing lighting to highlight photos and displays, hosting Theatre of Fools for two Vaudeville shows and a juggling workshop for children, as well as the Old West Society of Minnesota for living history and reenactments. All artists/historians are Minnesota-based.
To rehabilitate the Old Settlers’ Cabin on the fair grounds. The Kandiyohi County Fair will replace shingles on the cabin, which was built in 1926 by the Old Settlers’ Association. The cabin is both a historic structure and houses county artifacts.
To offer history programming at the Kittson County Fair. A local retired doctor will perform a narration on the different machines used to plant and harvest crops, in addition to the stages of farming during pioneer days. The fair will also host a lumberjack presentation and a historical farm safety exhibit.
To provide a variety of arts and cultural heritage activities at the Koochiching County Fair. Funds will be used to bring The Community of a Plate Exhibit to the fair. A Grand Rapids photographer will be commissioned to photograph local food producers in Koochiching County. Their portraits will be displayed during the fair.
To enhance the existing performance stage, install six “farm museum” murals produced by a local high school, and offer several programs promoting northern Minnesota’s agricultural heritage. Koochiching County Fair has updated their performance stage to have the capacity to offer several arts performances including a barbershop quartet, a robotic puppet show, a dogsled demonstration, and an antique machinery display. In addition to offering performance art shows, the fair has installed several murals created by local children celebrating the areas local agricultural history.
To partner with the Lac qui Parle Historical Society to provide a historical display that takes the viewer through 141 years of the fair, county, and local 4-H history. The Lac qui Parle County Fair will also offer an interactive one room schoolhouse exhibit and host several arts demonstrations-as taught by the Milan Village Arts School.
To create a mural depicting Lake County's history, build a stage to accommodate performances, and provide a venue and supplies for painting, pottery, spinning, and other fine art workshops and demonstrations. Workshops and necessary supplies will be free to the public.
To continue increasing access to arts and cultural heritage activities held in the Lake County Fair's arts building by purchasing a sound system and enhanced lighting for the stage.
To offer arts and cultural heritage activities at the Lake of the Woods County Fair. Programming will include steel drum band demonstrations and a cooking demonstration.
